Collective intelligence : the neglected side of organizations

Collective intelligence : the neglected side of organizations

Why would anyone build an organizational structure so rigid that no innovation is possible ?
Why would anybody create procedures that suffocate initiative while simultaneously promoting a job position requiring creativity and vision ?
Why would anyone WANT to work in such an organization and then complain that work is boring ?

Today’s work place is a dichotomy.
To say the least.

Most organizations see their morale go down year after year, along with the engagement level of most of their employees.
It is no surprise that the engagement level is inversely proportional to the number of hierarchical levels between an employee and top management. What is more surprising is that the engagement level of managers is also going down.
Well…
Not that surprising.

I was stunned a few years ago when I asked to some participants what was their authority level on their organization. I meant specifically, how much can YOU spend without additional authorization ?
Their answer flabbergasted me.
Or rather… the absence of a response.
THEY DID NOT KNOW !!!
Therefore, they assumed it was …ZERO !

How can ANYONE have any initiative if they do not know their limit ?

Oh, of course, if there are NO LIMIT, the task is easy. However, bureaucracy has been very good at imposing limits.
Budget limits.
Initiative limits.
Communication limits.
In some cases, limits’ limits !!

Look at this (taken from Wikipedia)

A proper division of responsibilities.

Sufficient power conferred to enable the same to be fully carried out, that such responsibilities may be real in their character.

The means of knowing whether such responsibilities are faithfully executed.

Great promptness in the report of all derelictions of duty, that evils may at once be corrected.

Such information to be obtained through a system of daily reports and checks that will not embarrass principal officers nor lessen their influence with their subordinates.

The adoption of a system, as a whole, which will not only enable the general superintendent to detect errors immediately, but will also point out the delinquent.